Ecosystem services are a way of thinking about – and evaluating – the goods and services provided by nature that contribute to the well-being of humans.
This MOOC will cover scientific (technical), economic, and socio-political dimensions of the concept through a mix of theory, case-studies, interviews with specialists and a serious-game. By the end of this course, our aim is to enable you to:
• define the concept of ecosystem services, its principles and limitations
• understand the key services associated with any ressource (e.g., fresh water) through readings and case-studies
• appreciate the advantages and potential risks of monetising ecosystem services
• appreciate the social dimensions (power issues, cultural biases) embedded within any method
• integrate tactical advice on mainstreaming this approach into policy and standard government practices
• Optional: learn how to map ecosystem services with GIS tools
The session that runs May 29th- July 10th will be actively monitored by the instructors, and learners will have the opportunity to ask questions.
This course was developed by instructors from the University of Geneva with the help of numerous researchers and input from the Geneva Water Hub and the Natural Capital Project. The course was financed by the University of Geneva, the Global Programme Water Initiatives of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), and the Luc Hoffmann Institute.
This MOOC is supported by the Geneva Water Hub and the University of Geneva along with the MOOC in « Water Resources Management and Policy » (www.coursera.org/learn/water-management) and the one in « International Water Law » (www.coursera.org/learn/droit-eau).
We look forward to you joining us!

From the lesson

Module 1: Frontiers in Ecosystem Services

Play the TRADE-OFF game (online), meet the primary instructors of this course, and discover the key questions that we will be revisiting throughout this course in this introductory module.